The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

Flora of Australia. 135

production of hybrids, some of which in time obtain the to the production of hybrids, some of which in time obtain the fixity of species. The same applies to many genera of less extended scope. The present case of the occurrence of a natural hybrid in the genus Pterostylis (Orchidaceae) is, so far as I am aware, only the second instance recorded for that genus in Australia. The plants were found by Mr. J. R. Tovey at Mentone, Victoria, 1907, growing among patches of Pterostylis concinna and of P. reflexa, var. intermedia. Externally they resemble the latter plant, except that the basal rosette of leaves persists in some cases until flowering. The labellum, however, instead of having an entire obtusely-pointed tip, is broader and faintly but distinctly bifid at its extremity, in this respect, being exactly intermediate between the two forms. Some specimens show signs of reversion to one or the other parent. Bentham gives the scape of P. concinna as rarely above 1 inch. It is usually 3 to 5 inches long, and may bear 1, 2 or even 3 bracts, the lower ones always empty. The wings of the column are marked in white, green and purple, but the intensity, especially of the latter coloration, varies. The possibility of hybridisation must be borne in mind in future studies of this genus, and this explanation may apply to some of the species already described. In Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids mention is made of a supposed hybrid between P. curta, R.Br., and P. pedunculata, R.Br.

PULTENAEA STRICTA, Sims. In Bot. Mag., 1588 (1813). (Leguminosae).

Synonyms: P. MAIDENI, F.M. Reader, in Vict. Nat., xxii., 158 (1905); P. LARGIFLORENS, F. v. M. in Benth., Fl. Austr., ii, 134 (1864); P. GUNNII, Benth., in Ann. der Wien. Mus., ii 82 (1839).

As a result of a close investigation of the numerous forms of these highly variable and closely related "species," it can only be concluded that we are dealing with forms of one large, extremely pleomorphic species. The original description of Pultenaea stricta in the Botanical Magazine, 1813, page 1588, was made from a plant flowering in England, and naturally refers to that specimen only, Sims being unaware of the varied forms assumed by the species in its native habitat.

136 Alfred J. Ewart:

The following description tallies in all essentials with the original one, but includes the other species mentioned. P. stricta, Sims. An erect spreading or somewhat decumbent shrub of 1 to 3 feet; the slender young branches minutely hoary or more or less silky-pubescent, sometimes somewhat angular and becoming glabrous when old. Leaves varying greatly in shape and size, sometimes on the same plant, from about 3 to 12 mm long, ovate, oblong, cuneate or linear, obtuse or with a small straight or recurved point, nearly flat, but with the margin usually slightly recurved, shining and glabrous above, paler and hairy or silky pubescent beneath, especially when young. Mid-rib prominent, stipules small, narrow or lanceolate, and appressed, the narrower stipules often spreading. Flowers very shortly stalked, usually in small terminal heads of 2 to 8, but sometimes laterally arranged, and then usually axillary. Bracts imbricate, the outer ones small, the inner ones, when present, larger, 3 or 4 mm. long and either entire, bilobed, or with a hairy point between the two apical lobes, varying in these respects in the same head. Bracteoles lanceolate or nearly linear, usually about 3 mm. long, and more or less hairy on the back, inserted on the calyx tube, usually near its base. Calyx about 4 mm., pubescent or silky villous the three lower lobes pointed —lanceolate, about as long as the tube, the two upper lobes broader, usualy more or less falcate and united to about the middle. Standard twice as long as the calyx, the wings and keel a little shorter than the standard, the keel deeply coloured, the ovary villous, the style filiform, but slightly thickened towards the base, where a few scattered hairs may be seen. Pod obliquely or almost triangular, ovate, more or less flattened and hairy, or silky, pubescent, usually 4 to 5 mm., long and projecting beyond the calyx.

Variety MAIDENI (PULTENAEA MAIDENI, Reader).

The stipules more lanceolate, the inner bracts usually hairy on the back, as well as the edges and tip, and slightly shorter. The "trifid" or bilobed apex of some of the inner bracts is evidence of their stipular character, and is not peculiar to this variety, which is very close to the type form.